How to Choose Books for Young Children: General Guidelines

Choosing books for children can sometimes be a daunting task. Here are a few general guidelines to help you out:

General Guidelines

• Choose books that appeal to your children's own interests. If you are unsure, bring them along and have them help choose!
• Look for simple, well developed stories and plots.
• If your child already has some favourite books, look for other books by the same author, illustrator or publisher. Or find books with similar premises or storylines.
• Look for books about familiar objects or events pertaining to your child's own life.
• Experiment with different types of books and different topics.
• Choose books that you like too. Your enthusiasm for a book will make the experience of reading together that much richer.
• Follow the "Five Finger Rule". As you or your child reads a page from a book, have them put a finger on any words they don't understand. The number of fingers used helps indicate the reading level.
• 0-1 fingers...too easy
• 2-3 fingers...just right
• 4-5 fingers...too hard
• Seek the advice of others. Ask friends, family and your children's peers about books that they like. Get to know your local librarians and ask them for guidance. Review book lists and consider award winning books.

Note: Remember, not all children read at the same level at the same time. Try to select books that match your child's own skill levels.

For more information:

• The Canadian Children's Book Centre http://www.bookcentre.ca/index.shtml

By Rochelle Strauss